Iran ready to play role in China's Belt and Road Initiative

“With a long history and splendid culture, Iran has many scenic spots worth visiting again and again. Iran attaches great importance to Chinese tourists and offers a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens. I hope that every Chinese tourist in Iran will have a good time,” Iranian ambassador to China Mohsen Bakhtiar said in a recent interview with China's People'a Daily.

As an important transportation hub on the ancient Silk Road, Iran sees the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity for its development, Mohsen Bakhtiar said.

The Belt and Road Initiative will help a large number of developing countries pursue common development, promote economic growth, and reduce poverty, he said, adding that this is an effort to achieve enduring peace through the establishment of mutually beneficial and win-win relationship.

According to Bakhtiar, Iran is looking forward to the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and is ready to play a greater role in the process of jointly building the Belt and Road and to translate the friendship between Iran and China into the results of practical cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.

At the recent China International Fair for Trade in Services, Iran launched an online national pavilion on a Chinese e-commerce giant, setting up a new platform for Iranian products to be linked directly with Chinese consumers. There are numerous comments from Chinese netizens on the social media account of the Iranian Embassy in Beijing, such as “I’ll buy some saffron”, “I’ll definitely go and buy it”, and “Show me more Iranian specialities.” Encouraged by all these comments, Bachtiar hopes to add more Iranian speciality products directly into the “shopping cart” of Chinese consumers.

The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is another important platform for Iranian exhibitors to deeply explore the Chinese market.

Bachtiar said that Iran takes CIIE as one of the most important international exhibitions and will send an unprecedented delegation to the expo this year.

In addition to the establishment of national pavilions, Iranian companies will also actively participate in corporate and commercial exhibitions, where Iranian companies in various fields, such as agriculture, consumer goods, medicine, and healthcare, will display their speciality products.

“Iran is seeking to diversify its exports to China. Iran’s exports to China, including pistachio, saffron, and dried figs, continue to grow.

Agricultural products such as sweet lemons, honey, citrus fruits, aquatic products, and dairy products have also been authorized to enter the Chinese market,” Bachtiar said.